Man may be known to make use of race horses for racing since this specie was first domesticated. Historical evidences reveal that as early as 4500 BC, the nomadic individuals of Central Asia has already developed techniques of horse racing. Actually, the Greeks tend to be known to have incorporated horse racing in the Olympics since 638 BC.
Both the chariot horse racing and the mounted horse racing were popular during these ages. These later became an obsession among Romans once they have adopted the activity.
For thousand of years that followed, this type of sports was considered to be performed only for the noble men as well as royalties.
Contemporary racing is believed to have started in the 12th century when the first reproduction between Arabian as well as English horses were made. These were sparred by the return of the noble knights to the mother land after the Crusades. They are known to possess produced sturdy race horses with excellent speed. Thus, breeders maximized the potentiality of a racehorse as well as put them into tracks. This particular breed is the Thoroughbred that we know of today which is still typically the most popular breed in the United Kingdom.
King Charles II had been known to have held horse races in his private courses throughout 1660 in order to 1685.
Through the 16th century, the English had been known to produce a number of racecourses. Queen Anne who founded the Ascot in 1711 is known to have made horse racing an official sport.
Halfway in 1700�s, the Jockey Club was made through the initiation of the elite figures involved with horse racing. This organization was the very first legion of jockeys which established the actual comprehensive rules and regulations including the requirements as covered by the sports. Thus, they became the overseers of the sports as well as sanctioned horse racing occasions.
The Jockey Club was also the actual initiator for the legislation of breeding among horses. Thus, James Weatherby, an accountant of the Jockey Club during those times, traced back the family lines of all racing breeds in England. His researches brought forth the book of the General Stud Book, which was essentially, the basis of authority in terms of the breeds that could be put to competition. Based on the General Stud Book, only those pedigrees which have descended from the line of the “foundations sires” are thought as Thoroughbreds. The building blocks sires are the: Byerley Turk, Darley Arabian and Godolphin Arabian.
Only in 17th century did the activity arrive in America for which the very first racetrack was seen in the Long Island. While it has become a favorite past time among Americans, no one initiated the formalization of horse racing until after the Civil War. Because of the already-established obsession plus the industrial development, and widespread gambling on horse races, the sport grew largely by the year 1890 when 314 operating tracks are considered to be on regular operation in the united kingdom.
Because of the lack of a governing body, this activity had become purely dominated by criminal elements. In 1894 though, the most notable and high-ranking stable owners met as well as organized the American Jockey Club which was patterned on the system as used by the actual Jockey Club in England.
Nowadays the sport has reached various countries across the globe. Governing bodies were also formed to manage the horse racing events.
